It is likely that you are exposed to plastics every day depending on where you live and work. Plastic products like food and beverage containers, some disposable plates and toiletry bottles are all made from chemicals. It has been seen in research that if these plastic products are scratched or heated, they may discharge chemicals. It is also found in research that some of the chemicals in these products, such as bisphenol A (BPA), may cause cancer in people at certain exposure levels. All oncologists warn the general public plastics and cancer risk.
A weak synthetic estrogen is known as BPA which is found in various plastic products. Like many other chemicals in plastics, it is a hormone disruptor as it has estrogen-like activity. Estrogen and other hormones are blocked or mimicked by hormone disruptors and thus the way they act in the body is affected and this throws off the body’s hormonal balance. Many women choose to limit their exposure to these chemicals that can act like estrogen, as hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer can develop and grow due to estrogen.
One of the most commonly manufactured plastics in the world is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In packaging, pipes, automotive parts, construction materials, furniture and a variety of other products it is used. One of the highest production volume chemicals globally is vinyl chloride (VC) monomer, from which PVC is polymerized. The current annual worldwide demand for it is approximately 16 billion pounds and it is increasing at 3% annual rate approximately. In the production of PVC, up to 98% of VC is used.
The unfortunate fact is that VC is a well-established animal and human carcinogen. With liver cancer, it is mostly associated. As a cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the corresponding malignant tumour of the parenchymal cells of the liver, VC is identified. In the petrochemical and plastics industries, the most significant exposures to VC occur. Through the air and water, general people are also exposed to VC.

Ways to reduce your exposure to BPA

A cancer specialist can inform you about ways of avoiding exposure to BPA. You can reduce your exposure to BPA in the following ways:

  • Try to carry purified water in your own glass, steel or ceramic water bottle.

  • The amount of canned formula used by your baby and the canned food you eat must be reduced.

  • Look for labels stating ‘BPA free’ in baby bottles used by them.

  • Carbonless copy cash register receipts must be avoided. Don’t recycle a carbonless receipt if you get one. BPA can spread to other products made with recycled paper including napkins and toilet paper if recycling of receipts with BPA in them is done.

  • Look closely at the bottom of plastics with a number 7 recycling symbol. The plastic may contain BPA if the plastic doesn’t say ‘PLA’ or have a leaf symbol in it.

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Ways to reduce your exposure to other chemicals in plastics

You can know from the best cancer doctor how to avoid exposure to other chemicals in plastics. The following are some ways to reduce your exposure to other chemicals in plastics:

  • Avoid using roasting/steaming bags and cooking food in plastic containers. When heated in a regular or microwave oven, the plastic residues may leach into food.

  • Pots, pans and containers used for storing food and beverages should be of glass, porcelain, enamel-covered metal or stainless steel whenever possible, especially if the food or drink is hot.

  • It is generally considered OK to use plastics with recycling symbol 2, 4 and 5. As long as they say ‘PLA’ or have a leaf symbol on them, plastics with recycling symbol’7’ are OK to use.

  • Plastics which have recycling symbol 1 is ok to use for one time but it shouldn’t be used more than once.

  • All plastic containers should be kept away from heat and sun.